Schauer: Mich. Must Accept Out-State Gay Marriages

BATTLE CREEK (WWJ/AP) – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer is calling on Gov. Rick Snyder and other Republicans to take steps so Michigan recognizes gay marriages from other states.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down part of a federal anti-gay marriage law that has kept legally married same-sex couples from receiving federal tax and other benefits. Schauer says in a statement that no one should face discrimination “based on who they love.”

Democratic-backed legislation in Lansing would change state law so legal same-sex marriages in other states are recognized in Michigan, giving gay couples the same state protections as heterosexual married couples.

If elected governor in 2014, Schauer says he’ll push stalled bills prohibiting discrimination against gays and work to repeal Michigan’s gay marriage ban.

“House Democrats have introduces a package of bills including a resolution to start us down that path,” Schauer said. “That should be first. And then I think we should work as a state and amend our constitution.”

WWJ Lansing Bureau Chief Tim Skubick spoke with Snyder on Wednesday, asking what the governor thought of the ruling.

“… He was noncommittal, which I sort of predicted because he just doesn’t like these kind of social wedge issues,” Skubick said. “The governor just basically says, look, this is a federal issue. He’s focused on Medicare expansion and he’s simply not going to wade into this controversy … would not say ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ whether he favors it.”

Schauer wants an answer from Snyder.

“I don’t know why Governor Snyder won’t take a clear position on this issue. This is an easy one,” he said.

While in Battle Creek talking to the governor, Skubick also talked to former Republican State Senator John J. H. ” Joe” Schwartz who, according to Skubick, was one of “what we call a dying breed of moderate Republicans” that served in the Senate.

Skubick said Schwartz called the Supreme Court’s ruling a “great decision,” adding that he believes today’s GOP is “obsessed with social issues,” and ought to get beyond it.